Peterhead head to Fife this afternoon to take on League 1 leaders Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park with Blue Toon boss Jim McInally telling his team to embrace the challenge of facing the Pars.
Jim explained: “It is a game that the players should be looking forward to being involved in. Dunfermline being at the top of the table is not a surprise. They should be there, and they have done well to be there so early in a league as competitive as ours and in a league with a good number of full-time teams in it.”
“However, we should not be afraid of the challenge. We will be playing in a big stadium and on a good pitch so we should enjoy it. It will be a tough ask to go there and get something but I have been involved with Peterhead teams in the past that have picked up points in Dunfermline and this group of players should be looking to do the same.”
”Jim knows what his team need to do to come back with points on board as he explained: “Our quality both on and off the ball needs to be upped. The quality in our play against Elgin last weekend was not acceptable and we know that we have to do a lot better to do anything against Dunfermline.”
“I believe that we have the character to get something. We showed against Kelty a couple of weeks ago that we have character in the group and we will need to show that again as there will be times where we are under pressure. “The number of absentees from the travelling squad has again reached double figures and the Balmoor boss will again need to make changes to his team after fresh injuries however he is concentrating only on the positives as he explained: “We have added Michael Hewitt on loan and from what I have seen of him he will strengthen us in midfield. We have lost a couple more of our attacking options for this one however we have a couple back so we will just get on with things.”
“There has been a couple of times this season where I have thought we will have a full squad but it has never happened so it is just something we have to deal with. If we show the quality, we have then we will be competitive and if we are competitive then we can take something.”
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Michael Hewitt could make his debut after joining from Ayr on-loan, Tom Ritchie is available again after being cup-tied last weekend and Ramez Hefzalla is also back in the squad after his international duty with the Egyptian under-20 team.Ryan Dow is over the knock that saw him miss out against Elgin and he could start against the club he left in the summer.
Unfortunately, there is still a lengthy list of players unavailable headed by Christiano Kisuka who is suspended. Jack Wilkie and Conor O’Keefe have picked up knocks and miss out along with the already injured Ewan Murray, Andrew McCarthy, Hamish Ritchie, Russell McLean and Ola Adeyemo. Work permits for Enock Walusimbi and Loran Venrooy have yet to be received and the recently signed duo again miss out.
Attending the game – Tickets are now available to purchase for Peterhead fans in advance of the match at East End Park on Saturday 1st October 2022, via https://dafc.co.uk/awaytickets/.
Away fans will be housed in the South Stand East Wing, access via turnstiles J-K. There will be a cash gate available on matchday for away fans.
Tickets are priced at:
Adults £20
Concessions £14
Under 12s £6
Concessions are – Over 65s, under 18s, Disabled, unemployed and full-time students. Please bring proof of concession with you on the day as you may be asked for this on arrival.
